Movable covering device, particularly for swimming pools

ABSTRACT

A roof movable between a raised position in which it forms a shelter over a terrace and a lowered position in which it forms a cover over a swimming pool. The roof is mounted on pivotable pillars via hinges. One edge of the roof is supported in the raised position by a winch and cable device for moving the roof assembly between the two positions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a moveable covering device,particularly for swimming pools, game areas or the like, and moreparticularly for average-sized swimming pools such as private swimmingpools.

Moveable covering devices for swimming pools are known from U.S. Pat.Nos. 3,854,149 and 3,209,373. The mobility consists in causing the coveritself to move from a position in which it forms a cover over theswimming pool to a position in which the cover forms a shelter from thesun or the rain above a terrace or the like formed in the proximity ofthe pool.

The structure described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,854,149 is of the pivotingtype. The cover is formed of articulated panels. To put the device intothe shelter position, it is necessary to install support columns.According to U.S. Pat. No. 3,209,373, the cover itself is supported bypivoting arms. In the shelter position, the structure is unstable,particularly in the presence of a wind.

The Soviet Patent No. 318,237 describes a movable covering device forstadiums. Each cover panel is supported by two swinging arms forming adeformable parallelogram. Such a device is very expensive to produce ifgood results are required in terms of operational quality, stability,safety and reliability.

The object of the invention is therefore to propose a moveable coveringdevice which is simple, stable and reliable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, the moveable covering device for swimmingpools, game areas or the like, comprising a roof which is moveablebetween a lowered position in which it covers, in a substantially sealedmanner, a first region which may be a swimming pool, game area orsimilar, and a raised position in which the roof covers, at a certainheight, a second region which is offset with respect to the firstregion, the roof having a first edge on the side nearest the firstregion and a second edge opposite to the first edge, the devicefurthermore comprising a structure having an articulation with theground and an articulation with the roof at a distance from the secondedge, and having, starting from the articulation with the ground, ageneral orientation going from the second region towards the firstregion when the roof is in the lowered position, is characterised bysupport means for supporting the roof in the vicinity of the second edgewhen the roof is in the raised position, the roof being spaced apartfrom the support means when it is in the lowered position.

The support means can be and preferably are arranged permanently at acertain distance from the first region such as a swimming pool. They arenot used when the roof is in the lowered position. In the raisedposition, the roof is stabilized by the support means. This makes itpossible to provide for the roof to be a relatively heavy and/orvoluminous assembly, capable of covering a swimming pool or the likehaving a relative large size, and having, for example, the appearance ofa conventional roof. A relatively heavy structure is capable, because ofits own weight, of closing in a substantially sealed manner theperiphery of the first region when the roof is in the lowered position.It is therefore possible to protect the first region from the intrusionof small animals or insects. If the roof is opaque, the development ofalgae and other harmful phenomena due to light and in particular due tophotosynthesis is prevented.

Preferably, the device comprises means of hoisting the second edge ofthe roof to its position defined by the support means. It isadvantageous for the hoisting means to comprise a winch or the likecoupled to a pulling cable extending between the roof and a positionclose to the support means, in such a way that by pulling on the cablethe roof, which is initially in the lowered position, is pulled along apath leading the second edge towards the support means, with aspontaneous pivoting of the pivoting structure also causing the raisingof the first edge.

It therefore essentially suffices to operate the hoisting means in orderto cause the roof to move from its lowered position to its raisedposition.

Other features and advantages of the invention will furthermore emergefrom the following description relating to a non-limitative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGS. 1 and 2, are diagrammatic views in perspective showing the deviceaccording to the invention with the roof in the raised position and inthe lowered position respectively;

FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are diagrammatic views in cross-section showing thedevice of FIGS. 1 and 2 in the lowered position, in the intermediateposition during an operation, and in the raised position respectively;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, with tear-aways, of the support means; and

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the support means when the roof is inthe raised position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the movable covering device 1comprises a roof 2 which the device allows to be moved between a loweredposition (FIGS. 2 and 3) in which the roof 2 forms a closure over afirst region which in this example is a rectangular swimming pool 3, anda raised position (FIGS. 1 and 5) in which the roof 2 forms a shelterfrom the sun or from bad weather above a second region such as a terrace4 adjacent to a longitudinal edge 6 of the swimming pool 3.

In the example shown, the roof 2 has the shape of a conventional roofwith two oblique panels 7, closed at each end by a vertical triangularwall 8.

The roof is made from opaque material and comprises a rectangular lowerperipheral edge 9 designed and sized to bear in a substantially sealedmanner onto the rectangular periphery 11 of the swimming pool 3. Theperiphery 11 includes the previously mentioned edge 6. If necessary, asealing gasket can be fitted to the edge 9 of the roof to bear againstthe periphery 11 of the swimming pool 3 when the roof 2 is in thelowered position. It is also conceivable that the lower edge 9 besufficiently large to surround the periphery 11 of the swimming pool 3and bear for example on a concrete, paved or tiled surround formedaround the swimming pool 3.

It is preferred, as shown in the illustrated example, that the raisedposition and the lowered position of the roof 2 are parallel with eachother, but it is also conceivable, for example in the case of a roofwith a single roof panel, that the latter be horizontal in the loweredposition and inclined in the raised position.

The device comprises an articulated structure formed in this example bytwo parallel pivoting pillars 12 comprising a first articulation 13 withthe edge 6 of the swimming pool 3 and a second articulation 14 with theroof 2. The articulations 13 and 14 have axes parallel with the edge 6of the swimming pool. With respect to a vertical plane P (FIG. 3)parallel with the axes of the articulations 13 and 14 and passingthrough the centre of gravity G of the roof 2, the axis of articulation14 is located so as to be offset towards a first edge 16 of the roof 2.The first edge 16 of the roof 2 is the one which moves over the swimmingpool 3 when the roof 2 moves from one to the other of its raised andlowered positions. The result of the above is that the weight of theroof 2 tends to cause the latter to pivot towards the terrace 4 aboutthe articulations 14.

When the roof 2 moves from its lowered position to the raised position,the pillars 12 move from a lying position over the swimming pool 3,shown in FIG. 3, to an erected position shown in FIG. 5, in which thepillars 12 support, more particularly, the region of the first edge 16of the roof 2.

Resilient means or springs 15, produced for example in the form of gasjacks, are fitted between the pillars 12 and the ground, and bias thepillars 12 towards the lying position.

In the example shown, the plane Q (FIG. 5) passing through the axes ofthe articulations 13 and 14 is inclined towards the terrace 4 when theroof 2 is in the raised position. By means of this arrangement, the roof2 can, in the lowered position, cover a swimming pool having a width ofe.g. 5 meters without the roof 2 being positioned at an excessive heightin the raised position. It can in fact be seen in FIG. 3 that due to theinclination of the plane Q the pillars 12 do not need to extend over thewhole width of the swimming pool 3 when the roof 2 is in the loweredposition. Furthermore, in the example shown, the inclined disposition ofthe plane Q is made even more beneficial by the inclination of the roofpanel facing the swimming pool 3, because the inclination of the plane Qallows the axis of articulation 14 to be placed higher. The distancebetween the axes 13 and 14 is thus increased, for a given distancebetween the peripheral lower edge 9 of the roof 2 and the terrace 4,when the roof is in the raised position.

It would have been possible to produce the inclination of the plane Qwith straight pillars 12 disposed with an inclination when the roof 2 isin the raised position. In the example shown, it has been preferred togive the pivoting pillars 12 a bent configuration with a substantiallyvertical lower section and an upper section 17 inclined towards thesecond region 4 in a way which corresponds with the slope of the panel 7of the roof 2 when the roof 2 is in the raised position. Thus, the roof2 in the raised position butts against the upper section 17 of thepillars 12. This reinforces the stability. Furthermore, pillars 12 whosevisible lower section is vertical are in most cases preferred from theaesthetic point of view.

The device according to the invention furthermore comprises means 18 ofsupporting the roof 2, when it is in the raised position, in the regionof its second edge 19, opposite to the first edge 16. The second edge 19is the one which moves over the terrace 4 when the roof 2 moves from oneto the other of its raised and lowered positions. The means 18 comprisea stationary mast 21 which is secured to the ground in a positionadjacent to the edge of the second region 4 (terrace) which is remotefrom the first region (swimming pool) 3. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, theroof 2 is supported by the mast 21 when it is in the raised position inthe region of its second edge 19. When the roof 2 is in the loweredposition, the whole of the roof, and in particular the second edge 19,are spaced apart from the mast 21.

The movable covering device furthermore comprises means for pulling theedge 19 towards the mast 21 and for hoisting the second edge 19substantially to the top of the mast 21 when it is necessary to raisethe roof from the lowered position of FIGS. 2 and 3 to the raisedposition of FIGS. 1 and 5.

The hoisting means comprise a winch 22 (FIGS. 3 to 5) able to beoperated manually or by a motor, the manual method being preferredbecause of its reliability and its simplicity. On the winch 22 there iswound one of the ends of a cable 23 which extends as far as the regionof the edge 19 which must be brought closest to the mast 21 when theroof is in the raised position. Between the winch 22 and the edge 19 ofthe roof 2, the cable 23 passes over a return pulley 24 at the top ofthe mast 21 and through a carriage 26 mounted such that it moves freelyalong the mast 21 which is shaped as a rail for this carriage (see FIG.6). The carriage 26 and a bracket 27 fixed to the edge of the roof 2carry reeving pulleys, 28 and 29 respectively, by means of which thecable 23 makes several forward and return journeys between the carriage26 and the bracket 27. The end 31 of the cable which is remote from thewinch 22 is coupled, in the example shown, to the carriage 26.

The top of the mast 21 furthermore carries an automatic coupling device32 of the type attached to the rear of trucks, and the bracket 27carries a coupling ring 33 compatible with the automatic coupling device32. An unlocking control 34 extends from the automatic coupling device32 to a point which is easily accessible to an operator, for example ata height of 1.5 meters on the mast 21.

In the ground surface of the terrace 4 there is furthermore provided agroove 36 extending between the base of the mast and the edge 6 of theswimming pool 3. The groove 36 is placed in the same vertical plane asthe one followed by the bracket 27 when the roof moves from the raisedposition to the lowered position or vice-versa.

The operation of the covering device according to the invention will nowbe described.

When the roof 2 is in the lowered position (FIGS. 2 and 3), the pillars12 are in the lying position above the swimming pool 3. The carriage 26on the one hand and the bracket 27 with its reeving pulleys 29 on theother hand are retracted inside the groove 36 in the ground surface ofthe terrace 4, as are the cable lengths forming the reeving between thecarriage 26 and the bracket 27.

In order to make the roof 2 move into the raised position, it sufficesto operate the winch 22 in the sense of pulling on the cable 23. Thesecond edge 19 of the roof 2 is thus pulled towards the mast 21 and thisforces the pillars 12 to pivot upwards about their articulations 13 withthe ground as shown in FIG. 4. This compresses the springs 15. Duringthe raising, the carriage 26 itself assumes, at all times, a position inheight along the mast 21 such that it is in equilibrium with respect tothe various forces or vertical components of forces acting upon it.

When the cable 23 has been wound sufficiently for the length of thecable lengths between the reeving pulleys 28 and 29 to be minimal, thepulleys 29 carried by the roof 2 are substantially located under thepulleys 28 of the carriage 26, which is substantially located at the topof the mast 21. The end of the movement causes the engagement of thering 33 in the automatic coupling 32 to end up in the situation shown inFIG. 7.

In the raised position, it is the tension of the cable 23 whichprincipally supports the second edge 19 of the roof 2 at the desiredheight. This function of locking the cable 23 is provided by the winch22 which is normally designed to oppose any movement of unwinding thecable 23 under the effect of the tension in the cable 23. The coupling32, 33 has a safety function for cases of breakage of the cable 23. Thecoupling 32, 33 furthermore has a function of horizontal immobilizationof the edge 19 with respect to the mast 21.

In order to make the roof 2 move into the lowered position, the releaseof the coupling 32,33 is provoked by means of the control 34 and thenthe winch 22 is operated in the unwinding direction. As the cable isunwound, the edge 19 of the roof loses height and at the same time thesprings 15 push the pivoting pillars 12 towards their lying position.The reverse movement of the one described previously occurs until thelowered position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is achieved.

The invention is not of course limited to the example described andillustrated.

There could be at least two masts such as 21 and/or two cables able tobe actuated by the same winch or by two different winches able to besynchronized.

It is also possible to replace the mast 21 by a structure fixed on anexisting structure such as a facade or similar.

In particular, in the case where there are at least two masts, thenumber of pivoting pillars could be reduced to just one. If there areseveral pillars, these may be connected by cross-pieces having, inparticular, the purpose of synchronizing them better in their rotationabout the articulation 13 with the ground.

The carriage, such as 26, is not indispensable and it would be possibleto connect the cable directly from the top of the mast or similar to theroof such as 2. There would then be the disadvantage that the cable isnot sunk when the roof is in the lowered position.

It is not essential to lock the roof 2 in the raised position. It isalso possible to lock it with means other than those with automaticcoupling described and illustrated. For example, the edge 19 of the roofcould, by sliding along the mast at the end of the movement towards theraised position, pass over an asymmetrical projection from which itcould not subsequently disengage itself as long as the winch is notoperated in the unwinding sense. When such a movement of the winchoccurs, the springs such as 15, pushing the pillars 12 towards the lyingposition, drive the roof 2 away from the mast 21 and thus disengage theedge 19 from the projection provided along the mast.

Another means could consist in that the projection can be retracted bymeans of a control accessible at the base of the mast for releasing theedge 19 of the roof when the operator wishes to carry out a manoeuvre ofreturning the roof 2 to the lowered position.

In the case in which there is only one pivoting pillar, its articulationwith the roof can be of the ball joint type to allow adjustment of theinclination of the roof, by means of two winches controlledindependently from one another, each associated with one of the twofixed masts. Between each fixed mast and the roof, each cable extendspreferably in a vertical plane passing through the centre of the balljoint. It is possible to increase the stability of the assembly by meansof two jacks mounted between the pivoting pillar and the roof in anoblique position on each side of the pivoting pillar.

I claim:
 1. A movable covering device comprising a roof which is movablebetween a lowered position in which the roof covers a first region in asubstantially sealed manner, and a raised position in which the roofcovers, at a certain height, a second region which is offset withrespect to the first region, the roof having a first edge on the sidenearest the first region and a second edge opposite to the first edge, apivoting structure having an articulation with the ground and anarticulation with the roof at a distance from the second edge, andhaving, starting from the articulation with the ground, a generalorientation going from the second region towards the first region whenthe roof is in the lowered position, support means for supporting theroof in the vicinity of the second edge when the roof is in the raisedposition, the roof being spaced apart from the support means when it isin the lowered position, and means for hoisting the second edge of theroof to its position defined by the support means.
 2. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said hoisting means comprise a winchcoupled to a pulling cable extending between the roof and a positionclose to the support means, in such a way that by pulling on the cable,the roof, which is initially in the lowered position, is pulled along apath leading the second edge towards the support means, with aspontaneous pivoting of the pivoting structure also causing the raisingof the first edge.
 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein betweensaid close position and the roof, the cable passes through a carriageguided along a substantially vertical path, which is substantiallyvertically aligned beneath the close position.
 4. The device accordingto claim 3, wherein said carriage is freely mobile along the path. 5.The device according to claim 1, wherein said pivoting structure isarticulated with the ground in the vicinity of the edge of the firstregion which is adjacent to the second region.
 6. The device accordingto claim 1, wherein said pivoting structure is articulated with the roofon the same side as the first edge of the roof with respect to avertical plane passing through the center of gravity (G) of the roof. 7.The device according to claim 1, wherein a resilient means biases thepivoting structure towards its angular orientation corresponding to thelowered position of the roof.
 8. The device according to claim 1,wherein a plane passing through the articulations of the pivotingstructure with the ground and with the roof respectively, is inclinedtowards the second region when the roof is in the raised position. 9.The device according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting structure is bentin such a way as to exhibit, when the roof is in the raised position, asubstantially vertical section, starting from the articulation with theground, followed by a section inclined towards the second region. 10.The device according to claim 9, wherein the roof has a slope and whenthe roof is in the raised position, the section inclined towards thesecond region follows the slope of the roof.
 11. The device according toclaim 1, wherein in the lowered position the roof bears in asubstantially sealed manner on the ground around the first region.
 12. Amovable covering device, comprisinga roof which is movable between alowered position in which the roof covers a first region in asubstantially sealed manner, and a raised position in which the roofcovers, at a certain height, a second region which is offset withrespect to the first region, the roof having a first edge on the sidenearest the first region and a second edge opposite to the first edge, apivoting structure having an articulation with the ground and anarticulation with the roof at a distance from the second edge, andhaving, starting from the articulation with the ground, a generalorientation going from the second region towards the first region whenthe roof is in the lowered position, said pivoting structure beingarticulated with the roof on the same side as the first edge of the roofwith respect to a vertical plane passing through the center of gravity(G) of the roof, and support means for supporting the roof in thevicinity of the second edge when the roof is in the raised position, theroof being spaced apart from the support means when it is in the loweredposition.
 13. The device according to claim 12, wherein means areprovided for hoisting the second edge of the roof to its positiondefined by the support means, said hoisting means comprising a winchcoupled to a pulling cable extending between the roof and a positionclose to the support means, in such a way that by pulling on the cable,the roof, which is initially in the lowered position, is pulled along apath leading the second edge towards the support means, with aspontaneous pivoting of the pivoting structure also causing the raisingof the first edge.
 14. The device according to claim 13, wherein betweensaid close position and the roof, the cable passes through a carriageguided along a substantially vertical path, which is substantiallyvertically aligned beneath the close position.
 15. The device accordingto claim 14, wherein said carriage is freely mobile along the path. 16.The device according to claim 12, wherein said pivoting structure isarticulated with the ground in the vicinity of the edge of the firstregion which is adjacent to the second region.
 17. The device accordingto claim 12, wherein a resilient means biases the pivoting structuretowards its angular orientation corresponding to the lowered position ofthe roof.
 18. The device according to claim 12, wherein a plane passingthrough the articulations of the pivoting structure with the ground andwith the roof respectively, is inclined towards the second region whenthe roof is in the raised position.
 19. The device according to claim12, wherein the pivoting structure is bent in such a way as to exhibit,when the roof is in the raised position, a substantially verticalsection, starting from the articulation with the ground, followed by asection inclined towards the second region.
 20. The device according toclaim 19, wherein the roof has a slope and when the roof is in theraised position, the section inclined towards the second region followsthe slope of the roof.
 21. The device according to claim 12, wherein inthe lowered position the roof bears in a substantially sealed manner onthe ground around the first region.
 22. A movable covering device,comprising:a roof which is movable between a lowered position in whichthe roof covers a first region in a substantially sealed manner, and araised position in which the roof covers, at a certain height, a secondregion which is offset with respect to the first region, the roof havinga first edge on the side nearest the first region and a second edgeopposite to the first edge, a pivoting structure having an articulationwith the ground and an articulation with the roof at a distance from thesecond edge, and having, starting from the articulation with the ground,a general orientation going from the second region towards the firstregion when the roof is in the lowered position, support means forsupporting the roof in the vicinity of the second edge when the roof isin the raised position, the roof being spaced apart from the supportmeans when it is in the lowered position, and resilient means biasingthe pivoting structure towards its angular orientation corresponding tothe lowered position of the roof.
 23. The device according to claim 22,wherein means are provided for hoisting the second edge of the roof toits position defined by the support means, said hoisting meanscomprising a winch coupled to a pulling cable extending between the roofand a position close to the support means, in such a way that by pullingon the cable, the roof, which is initially in the lowered position, ispulled along a path leading the second edge towards the support means,with a spontaneous pivoting of the pivoting structure also causing theraising of the first edge.
 24. The device according to claim 23, whereinbetween said close position and the roof, the cable passes through acarriage guided along a substantially vertical path, which issubstantially vertically aligned beneath the close position.
 25. Thedevice according to claim 24, wherein said carriage is freely mobilealong the path.
 26. The device according to claim 22, wherein saidpivoting structure is articulated with the ground in the vicinity of theedge of the first region which is adjacent to the second region.
 27. Thedevice according to claim 22, wherein a plane passing through thearticulations of the pivoting structure with the ground and with theroof respectively, is inclined towards the second region when the roofis in the raised position.
 28. The device according to claim 22, whereinthe pivoting structure is bent in such a way as to exhibit, when theroof is in the raised position, a substantially vertical section,starting from the articulation with the ground, followed by a sectioninclined towards the second region.
 29. The device according to claim28, wherein the roof has a slope and when the roof is in the raisedposition, the section inclined towards the second region follows theslope of the roof.
 30. The device according to claim 22, wherein in thelowered position the roof bears in a substantially sealed manner on theground around the first region.
 31. A movable covering device, thedevice comprisinga roof which is movable between a lowered position inwhich the roof covers a first region in a substantially sealed manner,and a raised position in which the roof covers, at a certain height, asecond region which is offset with respect to the first region, the roofhaving a first edge on the side nearest the first region and a secondedge opposite to the first edge, a pivoting structure having anarticulation with the ground and an articulation with the roof at adistance from the second edge, and having, starting from thearticulation with the ground, a general orientation going from thesecond region towards the first region when the roof is in the loweredposition, wherein a plane passing through the articulations of thepivoting structure with the ground and with the roof respectively isinclined towards the second region when the roof is in the raisedposition, support means for supporting the roof in the vicinity of thesecond edge when the roof is in the raised position, the roof beingspaced apart from the support means when it is in the lowered position.32. The device according to claim 31, wherein means are provided forhoisting the second edge of the roof to its position defined by thesupport means, said hoisting means comprising a winch coupled to apulling cable extending between the roof and a position close to thesupport means, in such a way that by pulling on the cable, the roof,which is initially in the lowered position, is pulled along a pathleading the second edge towards the support means, with a spontaneouspivoting of the pivoting structure also causing the raising of the firstedge.
 33. The device according to claim 32, wherein between said closeposition and the roof, the cable passes through a carriage guided alonga substantially vertical path, which is substantially vertically alignedbeneath the close position.
 34. The device according to claim 33,wherein said carriage is freely mobile along the path.
 35. The deviceaccording to claim 31, wherein said pivoting structure is articulatedwith the ground in the vicinity of the edge of the first region which isadjacent to the second region.
 36. The device according to claim 31,wherein the pivoting structure is bent in such a way as to exhibit, whenthe roof is in the raised position, a substantially vertical section,starting from the articulation with the ground, followed by a sectioninclined towards the second region.
 37. The device according to claim36, wherein the roof has a slope and when the roof is in the raisedposition, the section inclined towards the second region follows theslope of the roof.
 38. The device according to claim 31, wherein in thelowered position the roof bears in a substantially sealed manner on theground around the first region.
 39. A movable covering devicecomprisinga roof which is movable between a lowered position in whichthe roof covers a first region in a substantially sealed manner, and araised position in which the roof covers, at a certain height, a secondregion which is offset with respect to the first region, the roof havinga first edge on the side nearest the first region and a second edgeopposite to the first edge, a pivoting structure having an articulationwith the ground and an articulation with the roof at a distance from thesecond edge, and having, starting from the articulation with the ground,a general orientation going from the second region towards the firstregion when the roof is in the lowered position, the pivoting structurebeing bent in such a way as to exhibit, when the roof is in the raisedposition, a substantially vertical section, starting from thearticulation with the ground, followed by a section inclined towards thesecond region, and support means for supporting the roof in the vicinityof the second edge when the roof is in the raised position, the roofbeing spaced apart from the support means when it is in the loweredposition.
 40. The device according to claim 39, wherein means areprovided for hoisting the second edge of the roof to its positiondefined by the support means, said hoisting means comprising a winchcoupled to a pulling cable extending between the roof and a positionclose to the support means, in such a way that by pulling on the cable,the roof, which is initially in the lowered position, is pulled along apath leading the second edge towards the support means, with aspontaneous pivoting of the pivoting structure also causing the raisingof the first edge.
 41. The device according to claim 40, wherein betweensaid close position and the roof, the cable passes through a carriageguided along a substantially vertical path, which is substantiallyvertically aligned beneath the close position.
 42. The device accordingto claim 41, wherein said carriage is freely mobile along the path. 43.The device according to claim 39, wherein said pivoting structure isarticulated with the ground in the vicinity of the edge of the firstregion which is adjacent to the second region.
 44. The device accordingto claim 39, wherein the roof has a slope and when the roof is in theraised position, the section inclined towards the second region followsthe slope of the roof.
 45. The device according to claim 39, wherein inthe lowered position the roof bears in a substantially sealed manner onthe ground around the first region.